title: German validation of the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS) II: reliability, validity, diagnostic sensitivity and specificity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The German version of the Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales (CAARS) has proven to show very high model fit in confirmative factor analyses with the established factors inattention/memory problems, hyperactivity/restlessness, impulsivity/emotional lability, and problems with self-concept in both large healthy control and ADHD patient samples. This study now presents data on the psychometric properties of the German CAARS-self-report (CAARS-S) and observer-report (CAARS-O) questionnaires.
  
  
  METHODS
  CAARS-S/O and questions on sociodemographic variables were filled out by 466 patients with ADHD, 847 healthy control subjects that already participated in two prior studies, and a total of 896 observer data sets were available. Cronbach's-alpha was calculated to obtain internal reliability coefficients. Pearson correlations were performed to assess test-retest reliability, and concurrent, criterion, and discriminant validity. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC-analyses) were used to establish sensitivity and specificity for all subscales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Coefficient alphas ranged from .74 to .95, and test-retest reliability from .85 to .92 for the CAARS-S, and from .65 to .85 for the CAARS-O. All CAARS subscales, except problems with self-concept correlated significantly with the Barrett Impulsiveness Scale (BIS), but not with the Wender Utah Rating Scale (WURS). Criterion validity was established with ADHD subtype and diagnosis based on DSM-IV criteria. Sensitivity and specificity were high for all four subscales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reported results confirm our previous study and show that the German CAARS-S/O do indeed represent a reliable and cross-culturally valid measure of current ADHD symptoms in adults.
authors.affiliation: Philipps-University Marburg, Department of Clinical Psychology, Germany. christih@staff.uni-marburg.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kis
authors.forename: O
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authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: S
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authors.lastname: Matthies
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authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hebebrand
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authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uekermann
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authors.lastname: Abdel-Hamid
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authors.lastname: Kraemer
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authors.lastname: Wiltfang
authors.forename: E
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authors.lastname: Graf
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authors.lastname: Colla
authors.forename: E
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authors.lastname: Sobanski
authors.forename: B
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authors.lastname: Alm
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rösler
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jans
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huss
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authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Schimmelmann
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authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Philipsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity